I was reminded today of the author, philosopher, pastor, John M Perkins. I was struck because I hadn't thought of him for some time. But it was reading his book, Let Justice Roll Down, that, in part, helped set my path for where I am today regarding the struggle for justice and the beloved community. Probably even before reading much of Dr King, it was Perkins who helped push this then conservative young man in the pursuit of justice for all.
Sadly, I hear he is in ill-health. Prayers for him and his loved ones.
Some quotes, then, from Dr Perkins:
"Come dream with me. Dream of a fight for something bigger, something more important and worthwhile. We need to fight for justice and peace, for the walls between us to come crashing down.”
“And it requires that we make some uncomfortable confessions. G.K.
Chesterton said, "It isn't that they can't see the solution. It is that
they can't see the problem." I believe this statement can be applied to
the lack of reconciliation within the Church today. We've not been able
to arrive at the solution because we haven't seen or acknowledged the
problem.
The problem is that there is a gaping hole in our gospel. We have preached a gospel that leaves us believing that we can be reconciled to God but not reconciled to our Christian brothers and sisters who don't look like us - brothers and sisters with whom we are, in fact, one blood.”
The problem is that there is a gaping hole in our gospel. We have preached a gospel that leaves us believing that we can be reconciled to God but not reconciled to our Christian brothers and sisters who don't look like us - brothers and sisters with whom we are, in fact, one blood.”
“If we have been silent and have chosen to ignore the mistreatment
of others in the past, we should begin to speak up and challenge
injustices. If we were racist and bigoted in our speech and actions,
there should be a radical change that is observable. If we have been
angry and spiteful toward the other, there should be a radical change
that is observable.
And, yes, if we have an abundance of wealth and we have the opportunity to use this blessing to encourage those we have previously been prejudiced against, we should open our hands in Christian love and brotherhood. We should tear down the walls that have separated us for so long.”
And, yes, if we have an abundance of wealth and we have the opportunity to use this blessing to encourage those we have previously been prejudiced against, we should open our hands in Christian love and brotherhood. We should tear down the walls that have separated us for so long.”
“Throughout Scripture we read about God's concern for people who
are vulnerable or suffering - the poor, the widows and orphans, the
foreigners in the land, and so on. All Christians should feel a sense of
calling to where there is pain in our society.”
....
And yes, I know that Dr Perkins is probably (way?) more conservative than many others in the Civil Rights movement... he may still be anti-LGBTQ (as he would almost certainly have been in the first more than half of his life, as was I...), although I don't know that. Still, his words moved this conservative Southern Baptist boy towards a more justice and beloved community direction and I'm thankful for that.
....
And yes, I know that Dr Perkins is probably (way?) more conservative than many others in the Civil Rights movement... he may still be anti-LGBTQ (as he would almost certainly have been in the first more than half of his life, as was I...), although I don't know that. Still, his words moved this conservative Southern Baptist boy towards a more justice and beloved community direction and I'm thankful for that.
